A Day of the Unexpected

Birthday Party Time

The Guests of Honor

If you know me well, you know that I'm an extremely organized person. Okay, I know some of you are laughing saying that it is more like OCD.  Its okay, I embrace that I'm a little hyper vigilant when it comes to being organized.

Today was a day that started out well. I was making great progress completing my list of morning tasks and even adjusted easily to Matt's request of having a birthday party for his new angry bird, Ice Bird.  He wanted a pancake with a candle in it for the celebration but we decided on a cookie instead.  Fortunately, I had a box of cookie dough in the freezer.  After a 20 minute thaw, we popped them in the oven to bake.  While they baked, we made and sat down to eat lunch.  

This is when the 30 minutes of mayhem started.  First, Matt sat down and decided to include all of his "friends" which lead to him spilling his juice not only on the eating bar/pass through but down to the floor in the dining room.  We got that cleaned up and decided that "friends" need to be on the bar stools only.  After making some ice tea, I filled Matt's cup and sure enough he spilled that glass too.....clean-up in the dining room!!!  Yes, I did recall the many times I spilled my own ice tea at dinner and did have some empathy but asked that in the future instead of just looking at the drink flowing all over or waiting for my reaction could we please get up and try and stop it with paper towels.  

After lunch, it was party time.  The cookies were ready!  Emily wanted to use her tea set for the birthday party which now included us celebrating her red panda, Asia's, birthday too!!  I asked them to bring me the plates for the cookies.  Then, I heard it.  CRASH!!  Emily dropped the plates and 3  broke.....time for the vacuum (this happened in Matt's room). Once that was cleaned up, we finally got to have the party. 

Everyone had a cookie (on a napkin) and the guests of honor had candles too.  The only rule was two cookies could be eaten by humans. :)

It ended up being a nice little impromptu party proceeded by mayhem. Oh, and I've been informed tomorrow it is Emily's peacock, Tasha's, birthday.  I have a feeling there are going to be many more birthday celebrations before the summer ends.  Hopefully, less mayhem will proceed any future celebrations!

Treats with Dad

Adding the cream cheese

Its been a while since Emily and Dave have had a "treat" making time together but that changed tonight.

Emily LOVES cheesecake and while we were in TN she chose a cheesecake mix at one of the shops we visited. Finally, we had all the ingredients needed in order to make it. So tonight they had their time "cooking" in the kitchen.

I was amazed watching Emily use the mixer and wield the spatula....it was another reminder that she is so growing up.

Tomorrow night we will share in the treat they've created - Key Lime Cheesecake.

Scooping in the Cool Whip

The finished product!

Six Flags Fun

The Spoils of the Day

Today Dave surprised me by taking the kids to Six Flags by himself. 

The original plan was that we would all go but Dave knows I'm not a big fan of amusement parks. Also, having had the kids home all summer he thought "a day off" for me was appropriate.

They headed out around 9:30 and returned around 5:30.  There were two times during the day when it rained and the rides were shut down temporarily but they made due with those moments.  As always, they played games..... Emily won the blue giraffe and Matt the Angry Bird (he is so obsessed with them).  

I personally love the little containers that their lunch was served in. This organizing mom can make use of those!!  :)  

Oh and I forgot to mention that the kids each received a free ticket for the amusement park  by participating in a reading program this past school year.  What was even better is that their ticket allowed for the purchase of an adult ticket at half price.  You have to love and expensive outing being majorly discounted!!  

Today was definitely a good day had by all! 

Reading Selections

Emily's Selections

I can tell my kids are growing up just by the books they selected from the library. 

Emily is now reading chapter books. She was so thrilled to find this book "Charlotte in Paris".  If you know Emily, you know how much she loves Paris!!! She already asked if we can purchase more books from the Beacon Street Girls series. I told her when she gets through reading this book from the library we will discuss it further. Now the "Little House in the Big Woods" book was one that I chose for her.  I told her how this was one of the books in the Laura Ingalls Wilder series that I read when I was her age.  She looked at it and took it somewhat reluctantly.  I am happy to say though that last night after reading a few pages she said how much she likes it and can't wait to read "Little House on the Prairie".

Matt's selections are a little less challenging but so him.  Although he chose "The Eye Book" first, last night he told me that he likes "Ten Apple Up on Top" better.  

Me, I am just happy that the kids tend to enjoy reading.  They have a month before needing to return them so we will see how far Emily gets with her books.  Matt, he'll be ready for new books for sure.  

Matt's Selections

Checking out the Library

Looking for something to read

On Friday, the kids and I headed to our local library.   It was closed at the beginning of the summer due to some renovations and officially opened just last weekend.  

The kids looked through their areas and each found two books to check out with their own library cards.

I have to say that our trip to the library was part of my strategic "plan" to get a few more stops in that I needed to do before we headed home for the day.  You see getting books and a slur-pee (from our local QuickCheck) just makes it easier for Emily & Matt to go along for the ride.  

I must say we got everything done and without complaint. The library was all part of the plan.

Checking out their selections